Has anyone got a device driver for a Linux machine?

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Something like 97% of all computers use Windows which is almost universally recognised, has great add-ons and does many tasks that a typical person might require of it, and only 3% use Linux which is custom built, has next to no support unless you know where to find it and has no device drivers for talking to add ons unless you figure out a way to code it yourself.

While those Windows computers may be popular they are deeply flawed in that they are easily hacked, cookie cutter brands that have no real personality and do not particularly excel in performance, speed or sound...they are also liable to freeze every so often when they realise that they cannot correctly process a check-sum.

Linux computers, while few and far between are custom made by the people writing the software, they are highly adaptable to tasks of processing since they get on with it instead of often displaying pretty graphics for the benefit of onlookers but with no real substance. Linux computers are often associated with lower costs too since they do not generally need lots of peripherals to make them happier doing what they are doing. Linux computers also are great on choice, while they may have the occasional breakdown they are highly adaptive, you can simply rewrite the code yourself and change that which needs to be changed.

The biggest problem for both Windows and Linux is that they are not compatible, both have strengths and both have weaknesses...and there has been no device driver written that allows you to put the two machines together to work in perfect synchronicity but I am ever hopeful.

This was originally running around in my head as I was trying to figure out the main differences that I see right now, I generally have issues with writing of the creative style and putting it down on paper but I think it does highlight some things regardless...

Yes, you can be flashy and high-maintenance windows and suffer more breakdowns over the course off your life than Derek Trotters three wheeled van until you have a massive electrical event from stuffing it with large programmes that are essentially worthless or you can be the ever dependable Linux, which does not need expensive things to make it work and that has some breakdowns, but can often find some programmer to come along and adapt what you are doing to go forward...

This is not meant to be serious and I basically changed the main functions of society into substitutes:
Computers = people
Windows = NTs or Neuratypicals
Linux = Aspies
Add-ons = friends
Device drivers = social context
Liable to freeze = constantly go overdrawn
Cannot correctly process a check-sum = constantly spending beyond their means to keep up an appearance
Lots of peripherals = house, car, expensive holiday
Massive electrical event = heart attack
Stuffing it with large programmes = eating excessively or otherwise binging on other substances
Programmer = observing and copying to adapt

This is basically how i see myself, I am not a windows computer and I am not just a pile of expensive tricks shoved into a box to make myself look pretty. I am Linux, I am hardworking, unflashy and get on with the job I am set on although fewer people understand how to turn me on.

We are all different and we are all essentially the same, why can't people see that, accept it and then maybe we can get back to our game of Dungeons & Dragons?

(turn me on = I'll let you puzzle over that for a few days lol)

I stopped using Windows years ago...90% of the time it doesn't even work, it's expensive, & Microsoft has no problem doing things like stealing patented software (they weren't allowed to sell Word for a while because they simply stole a patent).

But what really did it for me was a few yrs ago I bought a new laptop that came w/Vista; it had a DVD player so I thought I'd try it out by watching a DVD (that I had bought & paid for legally.)

I was quite surprised to get a message saying my actions (i.e. playing a DVD on a DVD player) were 'inappropiate'...too much danger of me making an illegal copy I suppose.

Anyway I now use nothing but Ubuntu, it not only works, it's completely free.

I like your analogy! I want to add to the computer 'geekyness' of this thread! If aspie's had a social rule book it would be like the Open Office document specification, its about 700 pages long but is clear and concise. The NT social rule book would be the Microsoft Office document specification (OOXML)... its ridiculously complicated and loaded with ambiguities and when printed out looks like this:



Yet somehow everyone still thinks they should use it...

(Yes that is actually the OOXML standard printed out)

I use Linux almost exclusively. I do run Windows inside a virtual machine so that I can do quick task which I have not set up Linux to do yet. However, Linux has more device driver than Windows does out of the box. This is (like autistic people) because, Linux has to support itself without much help from the outside. Windows (like NT's) get all kinds of help from the outside and needs to do very little in and of itself when it comes to supporting hardware. That is because other people do most of the work such as writing device drivers. Manufacturers will usually include a Windows disk for most anything they sell that is computer hardware related. Windows is so NT that they even named a version of it Windows NT (hehe). I would take Windows over Linux depending on how much one is willing to PAY ME to use it.

I have been running Ubuntu Linux for about 4 years now and have not had any driver issues, except tor an old sound card. During that time I have used it on 3 desktops and a laptop. Windows is garbage ware at best. MAC, or PC with Linux are the only real answers for computing.

I think one of the main problems limiting distribution of Linux is that like autism, there are so many myths about it. These myths include the lack of drivers for peripherals, it's hard to use, and many more.

When I was writing my book, people recommended that I switch to Mac OS or Windows because there was not much in the way of desktop publishing available for Linux. Not only did I write my book using Linux software such as Open Office Writer (available for other OS's), I also did the cover design and artwork using G.I.M.P. and Open Office Draw. I was able to format and publish my book entirely with free software. In addition, I used free software Posterazor to make posters and other promotional materials.

The only real disadvantage that I can see with using Linux is the fact that most stores do not support it. Linux is not only free as in speech, it is also free as in puppy. It can be set up so that it is a real pain to use, or it can be set up so that it is extremely useful. Games are another aspect in which Linux has a disadvantage. While Linux can be made to run many games that are played on Windows and other devices, some of them require work to get running on Linux.
However, once things are successfully set up on a Linux machine, it tends to be more stable, reliable, and in most cases faster and more secure than Windows.

The mentality of the Linux user and development community also tends to be somewhat different than that of the Windows user and development community. Generally speaking, the Linux community tends to be more of sharing and co-operation where the Windows community tend to be more in the lines of buying and selling, piracy, and competition. In other words in the Linux community, when one gives up a little time or information, the effort ends up benefiting both the giver and the rest of the community. In the Windows, community, when one benefits, it is considered a loss or effort that needs compensation (pay). As I said, these are GENERAL attitudes, and there are exceptions.

One can have the advantages of both by running both. With virtual machine programs, software can be used to emulate an entire working computer system. This means that with a program such as Virtual Box, one can run Linux inside of Windows or Windows inside of Linux.
I run Windows 7 inside of Gentoo Linux, and it is like having my own slave NT to handle interactions with the NT world.

This topic got gloriously sidetracked didn't it? lol

Yes, very much so. I got kind of confused if people were extending the analogy or just talking about linux.